Hills families impacted by the Cudlee Creek bushfires to be honoured during special Christmas in July event
Plans are underway to treat bushfire-affected families to a special Christmas in July. Here’s how you can help.
Adelaide Hills
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Santa will make an early appearance for bushfire-affected families, with the Adelaide Hills community holding a special Christmas this month.
The Mount Torrens Business Association is hosting a weekend of jolly fun on July 25 and 26, with anyone impacted by the Cudlee Creek blazes invited to come along.
The event will be staged at Mount Torrens Hotel and will include Christmas lunch and dinner, as well as donated presents for the kids.
Event co-ordinator and publican Angie Lo-Faro said the event aimed to bring together those still reeling from the effects of the December 20 event.
“Last year, because of the fires, everyone didn’t do what they had planned for Christmas Eve so we ended up, in 24 hours, organising a barbecue and drinks for the community,” Ms Lo-Faro said.
“It was so successful in bringing the community together that we decided to do it for Christmas in July as well.
“Initially, this was just going to be a small event for the Mount Torrens community but then we though, the rest of the fire zone must be feeling the way we do – a bit isolated and forgotten because of COVID – so we decided to open it up to the rest of the community and have it for a whole weekend.”
Festivities would commence “the night before Christmas”, with the CFS doing lolly run to every home in Mount Torrens on July 24.
But the real fun begins the next day, with volunteers running four daily sittings for registered participants.
Residents can secure their spot by calling the Mount Torrens Hotel.
“We expect a few hundred … we’re going to be very COVID safe and will also be seating people in their region to allow people to meet others from their impacted areas,” Ms Lo-Faro said.
“So it should be a lot of fun and will hopefully remind people what Christmas is and should be all about as we head into the next bushfire season.”
While the event is strictly for bushfire victims, Ms Lo-Faro said the wider community could assist families by donating presents at Rebekha Sharkie’s office, shop 1/72 Gawler Street, Mount Barker; the Lobethal Recovery Centre, 1 Lobethal Road, Lobethal; Mount Torrens Hotel, 1 Townsend Road, Mount Torrens; and Unit 1, 355b Angas Street, Adelaide.